Liverpool F.C. – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – Gameweek 8
Match week eight is done, beating the Foxes 2-1. The good run off form, welcome indeed, would be better if they didn’t concede. Despite the Leicester win, players and fans both aren’t without sin. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool F.C.
The Good
Fighting off the Foxes to win 2-1 at Anfield. Former boss Brendan Rodgers set his side up to frustrate their hosts and nick a result in the process. It almost worked but for man of the moment Sadio Mané.
The Senegalese striker was at his menacing best, giving the Reds the lead on 40 minutes. Then earning the penalty which James Milner covered to secure the win late on.
Liverpool deserved the win overall, although I’m sure Rodgers would have felt his side had done enough at his old stomping ground to secure a point. However, many would agree that Mané made the difference here in a game where the hosts won ugly to use the old phrase. The striker worked tirelessly in his defensive duties to snuff out the threat of one-time (reported) Reds transfer target Ben Chilwell.
FULL-TIME Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
Late, late drama as Liverpool win their 17th #PL match in a row#LIVLEI pic.twitter.com/I2VTYZm2Z5
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 5, 2019
The visitors were also lucky to finish the game with 11 men in the field after one or two tasty challenges (see The Ugly below).
The Bad
For all of the accolades the team is getting, they’re clearly unable to (consistently) keep a clean sheet. Not a huge concern right now as the forwards are getting the team out of jail. However, should they fail, tongues will soon start wagging.
I thought when Virgil van Dijk signed for Liverpool that this was the final piece of the puzzle. How wrong I was. Step forward Alisson Ramses Becker.
Since the Brazilian’s injury in the first game of the season against Norwich City, Liverpool have failed to keep a clean sheet in all but two of the six Premier league games played in Alisson’s absence. Is this a coincidence? I doubt it very much. Often when we look for driving forces behind a team we look for the glamour positions.
Salah, Mané, Roberto Firmino all take the plaudits. However, the last line of defence – being Alisson, is likely the most underrated. Almost on a paar with Gino Wijnaldum, who is a rock in the Reds’ midfield. The problem, as we all know, is that a goal keeper’s mistakes are costly as they’ll result in a goal more often than not.
In my opinion – and this is all “ifs”, “buts” and “maybes”, but the availability of the first choice ‘keeper could well make the difference between winning the title and waiting another Lord knows how many more years for another chance.
So we’re gonna act like the absence of Alisson, arguably the best goalkeeper itw has nothing to do with the no of clean sheets smh 🤦♂️
— DG (@comegetmemami) October 5, 2019
The Ugly
This unenviable accolade goes to Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury. The England Under-21 player committed a stinker of a challenge on Mo Salah, taking the Egyptian out of the game.
“It was done to slow Mo down and that is not OK.”
Jürgen Klopp was understandably furious at what he felt was a deliberate attempt to hurt one of his prized assets. “… that is not OK!” fumed the gaffer. To be fair he was probably right.
Brendan Rodgers all but confirmed that with his silence on the matter after the game. Surprised? Not really. Some sour grapes? Quite likely. Was the racial abuse suffered by the youngster on social media after the game warranted? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
I’m hopeful there’ll be a time when a manager can stand up against blatant wrongs, regardless as to who the transgressor was. And, when society can stamp out inappropriate ways of reacting to such wrongs
https://twitter.com/fffootballforum/status/1180782123701153793?s=21
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